Monrovia — The Board of Directors of the Liberia Agriculture Commodity Regulatory Authority (LACRA) has firmly maintained that Deputy Director General for Operations and Technical Services, Hon. Alpha Gongolee, remains under suspension, dismissing widespread rumours and social media claims that he has been cleared of allegations and reinstated to his position.
By Selma Lomax, [email protected]
In a statement issued on May 31, 2026, the Board clarified that no official decision has been taken to lift the suspension imposed on Gongolee and emphasized that reports circulating on social media suggesting otherwise are false and misleading.
According to the Board, the suspension remains fully in force pending the proper conclusion of administrative processes related to serious allegations of misconduct and procedural violations.
The clarification comes amid growing public speculation following the circulation of videos and publications claiming that the LACRA official had been exonerated and restored to office.
The Board recalled that its decision to suspend Gongolee stemmed from allegations that he authorized Zeno Company to export cocoa without complying with LACRA’s established regulatory procedures. The Authority said the action bypassed the institution’s chain of command and violated official export and shipping protocols that govern Liberia’s agricultural commodity sector.
However, the Board stressed that the suspension was not based solely on the Zeno Company incident. It noted that the disciplinary action followed a pattern of repeated allegations involving the unauthorized issuance of export permits to individuals and businesses accused of operating outside the Authority’s regulatory framework.
According to the statement, concerns had been raised regarding several instances in which export permits were allegedly granted without proper authorization, thereby allowing cocoa shipments to leave the country in violation of established regulations.
The Board said such allegations prompted heightened scrutiny and contributed significantly to its decision to suspend the Deputy Director General.
Addressing the ongoing investigation into the Zeno Company matter, the Board disclosed that it had formally requested the Liberia National Police (LNP) to conduct an inquiry and submit its findings directly to the Board for review and administrative action.
However, the Board expressed concern that established investigative and administrative procedures were allegedly not followed. It stated that rather than being submitted to the Board, which served as the convening authority for the investigation, the reported findings were allegedly released to the subject of the inquiry and subsequently circulated on various social media platforms.
The Board argued that such actions undermined the integrity of the investigative process and prevented the Authority from formally reviewing any conclusions that may have been reached.
“As far as the Board of Directors is concerned, no official investigative report has been formally received,” the statement noted. “Therefore, the suspension of Hon. Alpha Gongolee remains unchanged.”
LACRA further stated that it cannot validate, recognize, or rely on any investigative findings currently circulating in the public domain because the official reporting procedures were not observed. The Authority maintained that until an official report is properly submitted to the Board through the appropriate channels, any purported findings remain unofficial and cannot serve as the basis for administrative decisions.
The Board reiterated that Gongolee remains suspended indefinitely on allegations involving collusion and procedural violations. It emphasized that any decision regarding his employment status will be determined only through lawful administrative processes and not through information disseminated on social media.
As a statutory government institution, LACRA said its internal administrative actions are guided by law and established procedures. The Board stressed that it remains committed to upholding the Authority’s regulatory mandate and will not allow misinformation, external pressure, or public speculation to interfere with its decision-making processes.
The Authority also sought to reassure stakeholders, international partners, exporters, and members of the public that its operations remain stable and uninterrupted despite the ongoing controversy. According to the Board, regulatory activities continue to function effectively, ensuring that Liberia’s agricultural commodity sector remains properly monitored and governed.
LACRA reaffirmed its commitment to transparency, accountability, and the protection of the country’s agricultural trade integrity. The Board emphasized that maintaining confidence in Liberia’s commodity export system requires strict adherence to established regulations and procedures by all stakeholders.
The Authority urged the public to disregard reports suggesting that Gongolee has been officially cleared or reinstated, noting that such claims have no basis in any formal decision taken by the Board.
